Bug issues

[valleyhempz]

Bug issues im pretty sure i have a gnate problem specifcally i keep seeing little black flies flying around it and little tiny white bugs in the soil, the plant is still ont he small-ish side its bushy but shorty it just went into flower mode 5 days ago and i wanna get rid of the bugs before it hopefully gets nice bud devolopment, so options on how too kill the bugs? my last grow of 2 plants turned both male which is bad luck!

[valleyhempz]

heres a picture of it, its also in a 3 gal pot

[Ganja Guerrilla]

to deal with the larve in the soil:
scrape the top layer of soil from your pots ....water the pots with Neem Oil, 3 tablespoons per gallon of water, flood them well , to kill the larve......replace the topsoil with fresh soil,

to deal with the adults
sprinkle powdered garlic on the soil to repell the adults, yellow sticky traps also work well paced on the soil

during the night cycle, put a couple "No Pest Strips" in the room, turn off the fans so the vapor builds up in the room.

dont forget to turn the exhaust fans etc back on next lites On period


looks pretty healthy, take car of your bugs

[valleyhempz]

Alright awsome i can do all that, but i live in a pretty small town wal-mart is the next town over and i dont think they carry neemoil, would a pet store have some by chance? cuz i dont have many places to pick stuf fup from.

[Ganja Guerrilla]

This is the one you want 70% strength, there are watered down versions that arent near as good

http://cgi.ebay.com/70-Neem-Oil-Pint...QQcmdZViewItem

[kirara]

i hate fungus gnats! while i agree w/ all gg suggested, i'd like to note that adding fresh soil can attract adults to lay more eggs, ya might want to consider covering your soil. i have perlite about a inch an a half deep on top as well as covering the drain holes w/it. sand can be used on top too but it's hevier & seems to make it more difficult for the soil to "breath". i've been told DE (diatomaceous earth) would work too but have not tried it.

as for other suggestions on gettin rid of the larvae...

[kirara]

... neem oil is a good option. if you were elsewhere i'd suggest preditor bugs. some use slices of potato placed firmly on the soil as a means of monitoring, but if ya have a small enough infestation ya could place em in key spots & dispose of potato & all. i'd imagine it would take some effort. personally we use BTi (bacillius thuringus) on larvae. it is sold under many brand names like mosquito dunks or gratrol. we get the dunks at lowes.

hope this helps
kirara

[valleyhempz]

awsome well i know i can go to lowes tihs weekend its the next town over but what about the fully grown gnates? im not working with many stores but if wal-mart or fred myers have wha ti need? or does anybody think i can get it all at lowes? this is my first bug problem and second grow.

[Ganja Guerrilla]

I agree whole heartedly with kirara, bti, gnatrol, aka Bacillus Thurigiensis works well for pesticide use

however in growing for Medicinal Marijuana card holders thier health and what is sprayed on the plants is most important to them and Ive had to do investigations on whats the safest products when left with no alternative but a pesticide, organic or chemical, this is not my conclusion, I go by what the scientists say not the manufacturers

Neem oil is a terriffic product ,will dispense with most bug , mould & disease issues...... its safe , it beaks down biologically by exposure to sunlight, wind and humidity with absolutely no adverse effects to the environment. & neem products can be taken internally, its the number 1 birth controll method in india, it claimed by eastern medicine for centuries to cure hundreds of illness, afflictions , prevents sexually transmitted diseases, bacteria & pests & can be used up to the day of harvest on fruits, & vegtables..........


there are people that complain of itching, eye irratation & neurological symptoms after the spraying of BTI/Bacillus Thurigiensis

Conclusions from a study on BTI/Bacillus Thurigiensis

Although Bt is less toxic to mammals and shows fewer environmental effects than many other synthetic insecticides, it is not ‘safe’. B.t. should only be used after all other methods of prevention have been used, only when entirely necessary, and in the smallest quantities possible.

ENDNOTES

[1] Carrie Swadener, “Insecticide Fact Sheet: Bacillus Thurigiensis (B.t.),” Journal of Pesticide Reform 14 (1994):3.
[2] Jeff Jenkins, “Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Memo, Subject: B.t.,” Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Oregon State University, January 1992, 8 April 1998, http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/tics/b_t.txt.
[3] Swadener, 13.
[4] Swadener, 13.
[5] Oregon State University, “Bacillus thuringiensis,” Extension Technology Network Pesticide Information Profile, June 1996, 18 June 2003, http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/bacillus.htm.
[6] Irene Novaczek, “To B.t. or not to B.t.? A question worth asking!” Eco-News Summer 1992: 1-11.
[7] Swadener, 17.
[8] Jenkins.
[9] Swadener, 18.
[10] D.J. Horn, “Selective mortality of parasitoids and predators of Myzus persicae on collards treated with malathion, carbaryl, or Bacillus thuringiensis,” Ent. Exp. Appl. 34 (1983): 208-211.
[11] “Bacillus thuringiensis,” National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP), June 1988, 18 June 2003, http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html.

and there are many, many more people that have medical issues from the use of Pyrethrin products

Pyrethrin products and derivitives from Pyrethrins

"the manufacturers" of the Pyrethrin products only say there has been no substantial testing to support any problems with humans and Pyrethrins....but there is a whole lot of people that say they dont need thier testing, they are real sick from Pyrethrins already!!, & they all cant be wrong
http://www.getipm.com/articles/letters/sitemap-ltrs.htm

[kirara]

the adults... gg suggested some good options above. i've never personally spread powerded garlic, it could work. we've got the cheap hanging stickys (a pack of 4 for like 2$) for adults. coarse as i said we've got everything covered from the egg laying buggers. maybe someone could enlighten us all on more options for adults. well other than preditor bugs since i imagine ya are not near anywhere to get them. my only other thought is to share w/ya i've killed a bunch by hand, but that is very slow going!

[Ganja Guerrilla]

they are attracted to yellow, thats why they come in colors " yellow sticky traps " works for the adult fungus gnats

[kirara]

interesting gg. coarse i'd like to comment we do not spray our gals w/BTi (btw thanks for the correct spelling i did it off memory). we crumble some of a dunk in water then 24hrs later pour that water on the soil where the larvae are. it is only good in the soil for 48hrs.

valleyhempz maybe research BTi yourself & make your own choice.

[Ganja Guerrilla]

thats why I posted what Ive learned , so people can investigate further and make an informed choice

[20fan]

http://econeem.com/

I got the soap. It seems to be working.

It's that time of year when the windows can be open. I didn't prepare properly. Damn gnats swarmed my ass. They seem to be diminishing.

By the way. GG, Does this stuff look OK?

[Ganja Guerrilla]

open windows is how they get in, make sure you have screens

I just looked at the site the econeem soap you have appears to be what i use they just pre mix it for you